Unlike today, Microsoft ruled the seventh generation. The Xbox 360 was a brilliant console filled with some truly amazing video games. In its decade-plus lifespan, the Xbox 360 moved over 80 million units, over fifty million more than the original Xbox. It established Microsoft as a leading contender in the video game console race, and it vastly outperformed the PlayStation 3 in terms of popularity (at least at first).
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Of course, some of its titles have aged better than others. No, the Xbox 360 wasn’t THAT long ago, but hey, technology moves fast! These are five Xbox 360 games that have aged well, and five that haven’t.
10Aged Well: Halo 3
We don’t care what anyone says -Halo 3was the peak of the Halo franchise, and maybe even the peak of the first-person shooter genre. The graphics are obviously a little dated, but they still look surprisingly crisp and solid for a game released in 2007.
It also plays well, the campaign is still adventurous, and a ton of fun, and the multiplayer remains as fun, engaging, and exciting as you remember.Halo 4and5were considered disappointments, and as such, many people have returned to theHalosof old. There’s just something about them that remains magical.
9Hasn’t Aged Well: Crackdown
Crackdownwasn’t the most popular Xbox 360 exclusive in the world, but it still found a dedicated audience that were willing to overlook its flaws. Unfortunately, the game feels more than a little dated in 2020.
Of course, it still retains its dedicated following, as people were left salivating over the prospect of aCrackdown 3. But when that game was released, it was heavily criticized for playing like an old game. It’s clear that the world has moved on from theCrackdownformula.
8Aged Well: Left 4 Dead
No matter how old they are, Valve games remain a total blast to play. After all, stellar game design will always transcend generations and technological leaps.Left 4 Deadremains a fantastic example of good gameplay design transcending time.
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Countless multiplayer-centric games have released since 2008, butLeft 4 Deadstill retains a core audience and dedicated player base. Absolutely nothing about this game feels dated, and even the graphics feel at home in today’s landscape of cheap, independent games. You could say thatLeft 4 Deadwas not…left for dead.
7Hasn’t Aged Well: Saints Row
Saints Rowwas one of the few successfulGrand Theft Autoclones of its time. But asGTAhas evolved throughout the years, so too hasSaints Row.Saints Rowplays a lot like an open-world game from 2006. It looks positively dated and ugly by today’s standards, and the physics engine is borderline laughable.
It’s also interesting to note that the firstSaints Rowfollowed closely in the footsteps of the more groundedGTA, whereas later iterations embarked on a far wackier and more outlandish approach. Those who have played the latestSaints Rowtitles would find it hard to return to the beginning.
Dead Risingwas released the same year as the original Saints Row, but it feels far fresher and more modern. That’s probably because, unlike theSaints Rowseries,Dead Risinghasn’t evolved a whole lot throughout the years.
Yes, the graphics are a little dated, but the mall remains just as fun to explore, and the toys are still just as creative and wacky. No, they’re notasoutlandish as later iterations, but in terms of exploring a realistic mall and experimenting with realistic “weapons,“Dead Risingremains a total blast to play.
5Hasn’t Aged Well: Fable II
Let’s admit it;Fable IIfelt dated as soon asFable IIIwas released. Compared to its successor,Fable IIfeels limited, the world feels small and restricting, and the gameplay elements feel borderline archaic.
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It also looks really cartoonish and childish compared to its successor, although that is more personal preference than a sign of being dated. However, no one can deny thatFable IIsimply feels old in today’s age of massive open worlds, expansive stories, and seemingly limitless RPG elements.
4Aged Well: Gears Of War
Gears of Warwas often touted as aHalokiller, and for very good reason. The graphics were first-rate and positively stunning, the story was richly imaginative, but most importantly, the multiplayer experience was wonderful.
And, much likeDead Rising, theGears of Warfranchise hasn’t really innovated or improved in significant ways.Gears 5plays largely the same asGears of War, and the multiplayer has barely been touched. If you can look past the slightly aged graphics,Gears of Warremains a pinnacle of the multiplayer experience.
3Hasn’t Aged Well: Any Kinect Game
Remember Kinect? Remember when that was a thing? Well, Microsoft apparently doesn’t want you to, seeing as how they ended all support for it a couple of years ago. But once upon a time, near the tail end of the 360’s lifespan, Microsoft heavily pushed the Kinect as a way to compete with the Wii.
Unlike the Wii, the Kinect barely worked, and even when it did work, we were forced to play mediocre titles that emphasized motion control over fun gameplay. And seeing as it’s now dead, we realize that it was all just a giant waste of time and money.
2Aged Well: Mass Effect
Mass Effectwas a true underdog of the seventh generation. It was a fresh IP, it was forced to compete with the likes ofHaloandGears of War, and yet to everyone’s surprise, it became one of the most treasured games (and eventual franchises) of the generation.
And while the shooting and core gameplay mechanics may feel a little creaky around the edges, the story remains just as intriguing, tightly plotted, and brilliantly paced as it ever was. Good stories never age, andMass Effecttells one hell of a good story.
1Hasn’t Aged Well: Perfect Dark Zero
Man, what happened to thePerfect Darkseries? The original game for the N64 is one of the finest first-person shooters of all time, but then…the series took a left turn.Perfect Dark Zerowas released as a launch title for the 360, and as such, it’s all many of us had to play. At least until we could afford to buy a new game. One that we actually wanted.
The game was pretty good for its time (granted, it was no N64Perfect Dark), but now it plays like…well, like a shooter released in 2005.
